“They Told Us We’d Never Last” — The Five and Jesse Watters Rewrite Television History as FOX News Crushes the Competition

For years, The Five has been no stranger to headlines — but this time, the talk isn’t about controversy. It’s about history.
With Jesse Watters leading the charge, FOX News has achieved what few thought possible: surging past the so-called “Big Three” — ABC, NBC, and CBS — to dominate primetime television across America.

Behind the soaring ratings lies a startling truth: while legacy networks continue to fade, FOX’s momentum has only intensified. The numbers tell a clear story — a shift in viewer loyalty and cultural influence that has reshaped the television landscape.

Watters, ever the provocateur, has embraced the moment with characteristic confidence, firing back at critics who once doubted his staying power. “They told us we’d never last,” he quipped, “but the numbers speak for themselves.”

What’s happening at FOX News isn’t just a ratings victory — it’s a cultural revolution.

FOX News Leads All Television in 2025 Primetime Viewership

According to Nielsen Media Research, FOX News Channel ended the third quarter of 2025 not just as the top cable network — but as the most-watched television network overall, across both cable and broadcast.

Through September, FOX averaged 3.3 million primetime viewers, edging out CBS (3.1 million), ABC (3.1 million), and NBC (3.0 million).
That dominance extended beyond cable news as well, with FOX surpassing ESPN’s 2.1 million average audience and easily outpacing MSNBC (1.2 million) and CNN (641,000).

Across the full day, FOX News drew 1.6 million total viewers, compared with MSNBC’s 492,000 and CNN’s 396,000. During primetime hours, FOX’s advantage widened dramatically — 2.5 million total viewers, leaving MSNBC’s 802,000 and CNN’s 538,000 far behind.

This marks FOX’s 95th consecutive quarter as the No. 1 network in cable news — a streak unmatched in television history.

Dominating Across All Key Demographics

In the advertiser-coveted 25–54 demographic, FOX News also maintained a commanding lead, averaging 159,000 daily demo viewers and 243,000 during primetime, outperforming MSNBC and CNN combined.

For CNN, the third quarter of 2025 represented a devastating low point — its lowest-rated quarter ever among the demo. MSNBC fared little better, posting its weakest ratings since 1998.

The Five: A Cultural Phenomenon

At the center of this success story is The Five — hosted by Dana Perino, Greg Gutfeld, Jesse Watters, Jessica Tarlov, and Harold Ford Jr.
The panel show averaged 3.7 million total viewers, holding the title of No. 1 cable news program and achieving an unprecedented milestone: the first non-primetime program to lead all television for 16 consecutive quarters.

Meanwhile, “Jesse Watters Primetime,” “Gutfeld!,” “Hannity,” “Special Report with Bret Baier,” “The Ingraham Angle,” and other FOX staples secured the top 12 spots across cable news, outperforming every show on MSNBC and CNN.

Sean Hannity closed out September as the No. 1 program among advertisers’ key demo, pulling 391,000 viewers — a testament to his enduring appeal.

FOX News’ Total Day and Weekend Dominance

FOX News averaged 1.6 million total-day viewers during the second quarter, extending its reign as No. 1 on all of basic cable for 17 consecutive quarters.

The momentum carried into weekends, where Kayleigh McEnany’s “Saturday in America” and Lara Trump’s “My View” each drew 1.4 million viewers.
On Sundays, Maria Bartiromo’s “Sunday Morning Futures” reigned supreme with 1.8 million viewers, while “FOX News Live” and “The Sunday Briefing” led the key demo.

Even Independence Day saw Americans tuning into FOX News in record numbers, outdrawing ABC, NBC, and CBS in weekday primetime.

MSNBC and CNN Falter Amid FOX’s Surge

While FOX soared, its rivals faltered. MSNBC’s “The Rachel Maddow Show” remained the network’s top program, despite airing only once a week. CNN’s “Anderson Cooper 360” managed just 616,000 viewers, ranking 23rd overall among cable news shows.

FOX’s top-tier programs, from “FOX & Friends” to “America’s Newsroom,” continued to dominate every timeslot, solidifying the network’s status as the undisputed leader in news and commentary.

A Turning Point for Television

The scale of FOX’s dominance marks a generational shift. Once unshakable broadcast giants — ABC, NBC, and CBS — are now watching from behind as FOX defines modern primetime.
For viewers, the shift reflects not just changing habits, but changing trust.

As Jesse Watters and The Five continue to captivate millions, it’s clear this is more than a ratings story. It’s a battle for cultural power — and FOX News has already won the opening round.